Fulfill your vocation gladly.

[The Four Stages Storytelling Sermon: Proposition-Problem analysis-Gospel presentation-Consequence]

 

 

Exodus 4:1-4 (Summary)

Fulfill your vocation gladly.

 

A. You must be willing to fulfill your vocation.

{Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me...”}(Verse 1).

When Moses heard God's great Words to deliver the Israelites who were suffering in Egypt. He said, “Who am I that I should go”(3:11). Moses continued to refuse to go, ‘But.’ We believers must answer ‘yes’ to God's calling. Don't just think of running away by saying ‘but.’ We should be willing to obey God when God gives us His work.

 

B. It’s not my ability to fulfill the vocation.

{“But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me...”}(Verse 1).

Of course, the vocation to save hundreds of thousands of people is heavy and hard work. When God told Gideon to save Israel, he refused to do so (Judges 6:15). The place of vocation is the place of sacrifice. But we have to believe that God is the one in charge. Not with my ability, but with the Almighty God. Therefore, we must believe that God works when God calls us.

 

C. Do the best as you can.

{The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”}(Verse 2).

God did the miracle of turning the staff in Moses’ hand into a snake and turning it back to his staff. The mere rod showed that it could be used precious by God. God calls not because we have ability but because of God's plan. Obedience means doing our best as we can. Then left it to God.

 

D. When you do the best history will happen.

{Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand, and seize it by the tail,” so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand}(Verse 4).

If you obey, God's wonderful work happens. God made a salvation history through the staff of God in the hand of Moses. God also held the history of human salvation through the way of the cross. As the history of salvation was done by believers who totally obeyed. If we do our best to fulfill our vocation, God will work. If you obey and do your best, God's hand will make history.

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Text

Exodus 4:1-4 (NRSV) 

1  Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”

²  The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”

³  And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses drew back from it.

⁴  Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand, and seize it by the tail,” so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand.